Role of Virtual Training Lab in Enhancing Laparoscopic Skills of Residents Versus Consultants

Objective: To compare the role of virtual training lab in enhancing laparoscopic skills at training stage and at the level of qualified surgeons. Materials and Methods: In this comparative study, we included 70 participants of national and resident MIS workshops were included, 35 consultants and 35 residents were included. Participants were analyzed in the basic laparoscopic skills of instrument navigation on Lapsim. Data were collected on first day and on last day of workshop. Parameters included were left instrument time, right instrument time, tissue damage and maximum damage. Result: In 35 residents the left instrument time was improved mean of 27.99(Range 39.52-13.43) to 21.53 (Range 42.37-12.38) and right instrument time improved mean of 31.73(Range 52-48.19) to 23.365 (Range 48.19-11.46). The tissue damage decreased from mean of 3.2 to mean of 1.46. The maximum damage decreased from mean of 8.82 to mean of 3.408. Data of consultants showed that the left instrument time improved mean of 35.71 (Range 140.22-13.09) to 24.39 (Range 111.82-9.71) and right instrument time improved mean of 45.76 (Range 141.45-15.89) to 27.82 (Range 49.2-8.6). The tissue damage decreases from mean of 5.171 to mean of 2.228. The maximum damage decrease from mean of 13.67 to mean of 5.136. All the values at consultant level were greater than resident level. Conclusion: This study further confirmed that virtual lab has very important role in improving laparoscopic skills and in addition this study prove that enhancing of the laparoscopic skill at resident level is much better than the acquisition of laparoscopic skill at consultant level.